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By Stowe Kintzinger, CargillVoice Contributor

When you’re having a conversation with the renowned author and professor of animal science Temple Grandin –who is widely considered the world’s leading expert on humane animal handling– you won’t have trouble discerning her opinion on a subject. Her passion is self-evident, and she joins into discussions with a direct, head-on approach, often answering your question before you’ve had time to finish it. She doesn’t shy away from stating things bluntly, even when the topic is controversial.

It is from this forthright disposition, that in 1991, Dr. Temple Grandin approached the meat industry with a revolutionary proposal for improving the existing cattle-handling system. This approach ultimately transformed the meat industry, and made Grandin one of TIME Magazine’s "100 Most Influential People in the World" in 2010.

At four years old, Grandin was diagnosed with a form of autism that allows her to perceive the world through pictures and symbols, much like animals. This unique capacity, paired with Grandin’s early exposure to an aunt’s cattle ranch, helped launch her vision for improving livestock handling practices. Yet, for Grandin, the accolades came much later in life. Speaking before a packed audience of nearly 600 people, Grandin remarked there was a time when “people didn’t want to talk to me. They thought I was super weird. But then I whipped out my drawings!”

These blueprints entailed innovative designs for meat processing plant holding pens and walkways, resulting in a more tranquil and efficient process, which is better for the animals, and safer for plant workers. These prompted a series of critical enhancements ranging from how cattle are first received on-site, to how they are staged, moved and harvested. The results were undeniable. Cargill, the first company to implement Grandin’s approach, witnessed immediate improvements in both process and product quality as a result of her vision. The efficacy of her designs have now expanded well beyond the borders of North America, involving a broader range of livestock and poultry in production facilities across the globe.

Reflecting on the present state of the industry, Grandin says “the…plants have gotten up to a pretty good level…some of these plants are getting pretty close to about as good as they’re going to get.” Yet as Grandin remarks, the effort is never over, because “you have to maintain it. It takes constant vigilance to keep things good.” Grandin also advocates for greater industry transparency, citing the need to show all the good things it does to produce safe, nutritious, abundant and affordable protein to consumers in the U.S. and around the world.

This advocacy has led to further innovations in the industry, including the implementation of third party, remote video auditing (RVA), by companies such as Cargill, ensuring the highest standards of transparency and accountability.

Accordingly, despite the need for Grandin’s sustained efforts to continuously improve the industry, as one expert remarks, “Our world is [already] a better place because of Temple’s work, and we’re honored and privileged to be able to say that we collaborate with her.”